Tacoma (WA) Park Commissioner Erik Hanberg and Landmark Commissioner Daniel Rahe have started a campaign to name a new park being built in Tacoma for science fiction author Frank Herbert. The park is being built on a plot of land where fresh dirt is being laid to cover smelter slag. Herbert lived in Tacoma in the 1950s and the ecological damage done by the Asarco Smelter informed his ecological themes in Dune.

The winner of this year’s Philip K. Dick Award for Best original paperback publication was announced at Norwescon on March 29. The Dick Award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust. This year’s judges were Bruce Bethke, Sydney Duncan, Daryl Gregory, Bridget McKenna, and Paul Witcover.

The nominees for the Philip K. Dick Award, presented annually for best paperback original book by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust, have been announced. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 29 at Norwescon 36 in Seatac, WA.

The winner of this year’s Philip K. Dick Award for Best original paperback publication was announced at Norwescon on April 6. The Dick Award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust. This year’s judges were Scott Baker, Mark Budz, Roby James, Darrell Schweitzer, and Alice K. Turner.

The judges for this year’s Philip K. Dick Awards have been announced. The Philip K. Dick Award is presented annually at Norwescon for the best paperback original publication. The Award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. The awards for 2011 publications will be announced at Norwescon 35 on April 6, 2012. The 2012 judges include:

The nominees for the Philip K. Dick Award, presented annually for best paperback original book by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust, have been announced. The winner will be announced on Friday, April 6 at Norwescon 35 in Seatac, WA.

Sir Terry Pratchett will speak at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on October 14 as part of the book launch for his Discworld novel Snuff. The event is sponsored by the Club’s Book & Author Committee and a limited number of tickets are available.

The Seattle Westercon Organizing Committee has announced a bid to host the 2015 Worldcon in Spokane, Washington. Bobbie DuFault and Sally Woehrle are slated to be the co-chairs of the convention should the bid be successful. Fans can support the bid with presupports at $20 or “Friend of the Bid” memberships at $120. Presupports can be obtained online on the bid website or by mail.

Neil Gaiman will be discussing the tenth anniversary edition of American Gods at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on June 23 at 6:30. The ticketed event costs $5. Copies of American Gods may be purchased at the time of registration, with proceeds going to support the Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library. No outside books will be permitted.

Mark Hodder’s novel The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack won this year’s Philip K. Dick Award, presented at Norwescon. The Philip K. Dick Award honors books published originally in paperback (mass market or trade), and is selected by a panel of judges which included William Barton, Andy Duncan, Bruce McAllister, Melinda M. Snodgrass, and David Walton. The judges also gave a special citation award to Project Itoh for the book Harmony, translated by Alexander O. Smith . Next year’s judges have been announced as Scott Baker, Mark Budz, Roby James, Darrell Schweitzer, and Alice K. Turner.